Donning the pilgrim's
white ihram-two pieces
of seamless cloth sym
bolizing man's equality
before God-Mecca
bound passengers in Syria
switch from street clothes
at the Damascus airport.
Ibn Battuta entered
Mecca (below) with a
Damascene caravan 16
months after leaving
Tangier. Here he earned
the title of hajji-one who
has performed the sacred
city's rituals.